The third competition for Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies to receive funding through the AI in Health and Care Award is now open. 

The NHSX Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Health and Care Award is making £140 million available over four years to accelerate the testing and evaluation of technologies that meet the strategic aims set out in the NHS Long Term Plan. EMAHSN is supporting interested applicants with their applications. 

This presents a significant opportunity for:

• our health and care system to realise the benefits of cutting-edge digital technologies, making services smarter, more efficient and improving patient and staff experience.
• our innovative health and care technology sector to develop, test and refine their products in partnership with the health and care system, ensuring that they are safe, secure, and fit for purpose.
• world-leading researchers and academic institutions to rigorously evaluate the application of these technologies in health and care settings and produce high quality evidence of their effectiveness.

Phase 3 and 4 applicants are particularly welcomed if submitting proposals within the following focus areas:

Self-management of long-term conditions

• Preventative healthcare and long-term conditions
• Reduced hospitalisation, accident and emergency attendances

Diagnostic support

• Reducing elective care backlog
• Symptoms checkers and decision support for differential diagnosis
• Prediction of deterioration

Improving operational/system efficiency

• COVID workforce issuesOptimisation of care pathways
• Identification of resource requirements
• Electronic roster system
• Natural Language Processing for administrative tasks

Supporting elective recovery

• Prioritisation of patient waiting list and critical procedures
• Risk stratification of waiting lists
• Elective care pathways

To support the AI award, EMAHSN is keen to develop potential partnerships in the East Midlands, between NHS and social care organisations who have challenges that could be amenable to AI technology and Higher Education Institutions and suppliers of AI technology.

How to get involved

The competition is open to NHS and social care organisations, Higher Education Institutions, Small, Medium and Large enterprises, charities and local authorities.

All applicants must meet the eligibility criteria, the current round of applications will focus on later-stage technologies in (Phases 2-4). There is a staged application process with the first deadline on 7 September 2021.

If you meet the AI award eligibility criteria and are interested in discussing your AI potential challenges or solutions that could form part of a joint application, please register your interest by completing a short form on the Meridian platform here by 6 August 2021.

For any queries or further information please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.